Pompeia (sister of triumvir Pompey)
Encyclopedia
Pompeia was a Roman
noblewoman of plebs
status. Her mother was an unnamed Roman woman and her father was the consul and general Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo
. Pompeia’s brother was the triumvir Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus or Pompey
the Great. She is the paternal aunt to Gnaeus Pompeius
, Sextus Pompeius
and Pompeia Magna
, the children of her brother.
She was born and raised in a senatorial family in Rome
. Pompeia married the Roman politician Gaius Memmius
. Memmius was an ally to her brother. Memmius commanded under Pompey in Sicily
. Memmius in Sicily served as a propraetor
. In 81 BC, Memmius served as a quaestor
into Spain
. In the war against Quintus Sertorius
, Memmius was killed near Saguntum in 75 BC.
Very little is known on Pompeia’s life. It appears that Pompeia and Memmius had no children.
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
noblewoman of plebs
Plebs
The plebs was the general body of free land-owning Roman citizens in Ancient Rome. They were distinct from the higher order of the patricians. A member of the plebs was known as a plebeian...
status. Her mother was an unnamed Roman woman and her father was the consul and general Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo
Pompeius Strabo
Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo , whose cognomen means "cross eyed", is often referred to in English as Pompey Strabo to distinguish him from Strabo, the geographer. Strabo lived in the Roman Republic. Strabo was born and raised into a noble family in Picenum a rural district in Northern Italy, off the...
. Pompeia’s brother was the triumvir Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus or Pompey
Pompey
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, also known as Pompey or Pompey the Great , was a military and political leader of the late Roman Republic...
the Great. She is the paternal aunt to Gnaeus Pompeius
Gnaeus Pompeius
Gnaeus Pompeius should not be confused with his father, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, known as "Pompey the Great."Gnaeus Pompeius , also known as Pompey the Younger , was a Roman politician and general from the late Republic .Gnaeus Pompeius was the elder son of Pompey the Great Gnaeus Pompeius should...
, Sextus Pompeius
Sextus Pompeius
Sextus Pompeius Magnus Pius, in English Sextus Pompey , was a Roman general from the late Republic . He was the last focus of opposition to the Second Triumvirate...
and Pompeia Magna
Pompeia Magna
Pompeia Magna was the only daughter and second child born to Roman triumvir Pompey the Great from his third marriage, to Mucia Tertia. Her eldest brother was Gnaeus Pompeius and her younger brother was Sextus Pompey.Pompeia was born and raised in Rome...
, the children of her brother.
She was born and raised in a senatorial family in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. Pompeia married the Roman politician Gaius Memmius
Gaius Memmius
Gaius Memmius may refer to:*Gaius Memmius , the poet, orator, tribune of the people in 66 BC, and believed to be the dedicatee of Lucretius' On the Nature of Things...
. Memmius was an ally to her brother. Memmius commanded under Pompey in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
. Memmius in Sicily served as a propraetor
Praetor
Praetor was a title granted by the government of Ancient Rome to men acting in one of two official capacities: the commander of an army, usually in the field, or the named commander before mustering the army; and an elected magistratus assigned varied duties...
. In 81 BC, Memmius served as a quaestor
Quaestor
A Quaestor was a type of public official in the "Cursus honorum" system who supervised financial affairs. In the Roman Republic a quaestor was an elected official whereas, with the autocratic government of the Roman Empire, quaestors were simply appointed....
into Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. In the war against Quintus Sertorius
Quintus Sertorius
Quintus Sertorius was a Roman statesman and general, born in Nursia, in Sabine territory. His brilliance as a military commander was shown most clearly in his battles against Rome for control of Hispania...
, Memmius was killed near Saguntum in 75 BC.
Very little is known on Pompeia’s life. It appears that Pompeia and Memmius had no children.
Sources
- Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2002
- http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/2134.html
- http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/2806.html
- http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/2808.html